A second Aframax tanker belonging to Mumbai-based Mercator Lines, the 105,000 dwt Prem Divya, has been coated with International Paint’s foul release coating, Intersleek 900.
The move comes just nine months after sistership Prem Pride had her vertical sides coated with the latest generation patented fluoropolymer at Dubai Drydocks World. This time though, the hull upgrade of the ‘Prem Divya’ involved the entire underwater area of the 1998-built vessel during the tanker’s second special survey. “We had monitored the ‘Prem Pride’s’ fuel consumption closely,” said Mercator Lines’ GM Amit Agrawal. “At corresponding engine speeds, the vessel was consuming up to 6% less fuel, depending on weather conditions, after the application of Intersleek 900. We originally calculated projected savings based on a bunker price of $450 and found we were saving nearly three tonnes of fuel a day. And whilst bunker prices continue to climb, our payback period just gets shorter. The added advantages of no biocides, reduced drydocking times and lower CO2 emissions convinced us that this is the technology we need”. Mercator Liner is one of India’s fastest growing shipping firms, with a diverse fleet including tankers, bulk carriers, dredgers and an oil rig. The tanker fleet includes two VLCCs and the company has plans to convert a single-hulled supertanker into a Very Large Ore Carrier. Mercator Lines has been a pioneer of latest generation coatings and has adopted the latest technology for all ship areas, both internal and external.
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